Should one step into any hospital or medical center in San Bernardino, they will encounter a fast-paced, interconnected network of employees working in several areas performing different functions, all to ensure that the appropriate care is delivered to a single patient. From the registrar that checks a patient in to the clinician reviewing said patient’s chart prior to discharge, every employee involved plays a critical role (even those in non-clinical functions). The failure of a single link in this caregiving chain can produce devastating results for a patient.
This fact was on full display in the details of a lawsuit brought against a Michigan hospital. A newborn was brought into the hospital for a renal scan, yet while the required IV line was being placed, the boy’s condition quickly deteriorated to the point of his skin turning blue (according to his mother’s account). Hospital personnel, however, failed to immediately perform emergency treatment other than performing rescue breaths. By the time treatment was delivered, the boy suffered from a lack of oxygen to his brain, which resulted in him developing cerebral palsy.
According to the lawsuit, the staff failed to issue a call for a “Code Blue.” Those familiar with hospital operations may know that a code blue represents an emergency situation and indicates that immediate assistance is needed. Many people are involved in such a scenario, including the clinicians that issue and respond to such a call, the operator who receives and transmits it, and the technicians who deliver the necessary treatment tools. Any may be deemed liable for a failure in this process, yet all may be held responsible. Those needing to take action following such a failure may want to first consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.
